2025 Starting Lineup - Post Best Guesses as Offseason Progresses

[Kadeezy]

Here we are in December....

This lineup has depth at RB with reinforcements needed at QB, WR, and OL. Not to mention the TE contingent to get healthy. This starting OL looks a lot like the one that was dominating the LOS against SJSU and Fresno....

LT - Sawyer Hays (6-6, 288, Sr.)
LG - Jose Soto (6-3, 304, RFr. + MRS)
C - Nathan Mejia (6-3, 304, RJr + MRS)
RG - Kenndel Riley (6-3, 353, Sr.)
RT - Aidan Meek (6-5, 300, Sr.)
TE - Coleman Kuntz (6-3, 239, Sr.)
X - Onterrio Smith, Jr. (6-2, 195, RSo.)
E - Makai Cope (6-4, 206, RJr.)
Z - Joshua Nicholson (6-0, 179, Sr.)
RB - Elijah Tau-Tolliver (6-1, 204, Jr.)
QB - Carson Conklin (6-1, 180, RSo.)


Some decent returners here, but they really couldn't get the job to begin with. Experienced guys, but fully expect there to be starters that are not on the roster now...

Anchor DE - Will Schalde (6-5, 258, Sr.)
DT - Mason Brosseau (6-3, 276, Sr.)
DT - Brandon Knott (6-3, 278, SR w/ MRS?) OR Kyle Stahlecker (6-6, 289, RSo.)
Rush DE - Josh Cashiola (6-3, 229, Sr.) OR Fata Puloka (6-3, 221, RSo.)
MLB - Nakian Jackson (6-1, 227, Jr.)
Sam LB - Mitchell Wolfe (6-3, 235, Jr.)
NB - Malini Ti’a (6-0, 205, Sr.)
CB - Zelmar Vedder (6-3, 193, Sr.) OR Phoenix Rose
CB - Elias Mullican (6-1, 172, Jr.) OR DJ Houston
SS - Koa Akui (5-10, 187, Jr.)
FS - Anta’Veon McKenzie( 6-1, 196, Jr.)

 

[SDHornet]

We'll see how the roster looks after portal defections but the coaches will need to prioritize WR/TE on offense and bring in a LB to play along side Jackson who has durability issues. Add depth on both lines would probably be the next priority.

 

[Kadeezy]

We'll see how the roster looks after portal defections but the coaches will need to prioritize WR/TE on offense and bring in a LB to play along side Jackson who has durability issues. Add depth on both lines would probably be the next priority.

Portal is hopping this AM, hope the coaches are on it...

 

[Super Hornet 2.0]

So you think we'll continue with a 4-2-5 alignment on defense and an Ace personnel group on offense, Kadeezy? I'd prefer a two-back alignment on offense and a 4-3 on defense, but if most of the teams we're facing are going with a one-back offense, I can understand wanting five DBs on a regular basis....

 

[stingthemgood]

So you think we'll continue with a 4-2-5 alignment on defense and an Ace personnel group on offense, Kadeezy? I'd prefer a two-back alignment on offense and a 4-3 on defense, but if most of the teams we're facing are going with a one-back offense, I can understand wanting five DBs on a regular basis....

Just fucking stop with your wanting to run 80's offenses and defenses. You are the only one and they don't work in modern college football

 

[Hornet99]

Here we are in December....

This lineup has depth at RB with reinforcements needed at QB, WR, and OL. Not to mention the TE contingent to get healthy. This starting OL looks a lot like the one that was dominating the LOS against SJSU and Fresno....

LT - Sawyer Hays (6-6, 288, Sr.)
LG - Jose Soto (6-3, 304, RFr. + MRS)
C - Nathan Mejia (6-3, 304, RJr + MRS)
RG - Kenndel Riley (6-3, 353, Sr.)
RT - Aidan Meek (6-5, 300, Sr.)
TE - Coleman Kuntz (6-3, 239, Sr.)
X - Onterrio Smith, Jr. (6-2, 195, RSo.)
E - Makai Cope (6-4, 206, RJr.)
Z - Joshua Nicholson (6-0, 179, Sr.)
RB - Elijah Tau-Tolliver (6-1, 204, Jr.)
QB - Carson Conklin (6-1, 180, RSo.)


Some decent returners here, but they really couldn't get the job to begin with. Experienced guys, but fully expect there to be starters that are not on the roster now...

Anchor DE - Will Schalde (6-5, 258, Sr.)
DT - Mason Brosseau (6-3, 276, Sr.)
DT - Brandon Knott (6-3, 278, SR w/ MRS?) OR Kyle Stahlecker (6-6, 289, RSo.)
Rush DE - Josh Cashiola (6-3, 229, Sr.) OR Fata Puloka (6-3, 221, RSo.)
MLB - Nakian Jackson (6-1, 227, Jr.)
Sam LB - Mitchell Wolfe (6-3, 235, Jr.)
NB - Malini Ti’a (6-0, 205, Sr.)
CB - Zelmar Vedder (6-3, 193, Sr.) OR Phoenix Rose
CB - Elias Mullican (6-1, 172, Jr.) OR DJ Houston
SS - Koa Akui (5-10, 187, Jr.)
FS - Anta’Veon McKenzie( 6-1, 196, Jr.)

I sure hope on D that 16 Huggins, 45 Williams, 58 mcglothen will play bigger roles next year as well. Williams played well end of 2023, not sure what happened this year (injury?). Also, WR room doesn’t look solid at all but at least that’s one of the easier areas to improve on in the portal.

 

[Hornet99]

Here we are in December....

This lineup has depth at RB with reinforcements needed at QB, WR, and OL. Not to mention the TE contingent to get healthy. This starting OL looks a lot like the one that was dominating the LOS against SJSU and Fresno....

LT - Sawyer Hays (6-6, 288, Sr.)
LG - Jose Soto (6-3, 304, RFr. + MRS)
C - Nathan Mejia (6-3, 304, RJr + MRS)
RG - Kenndel Riley (6-3, 353, Sr.)
RT - Aidan Meek (6-5, 300, Sr.)
TE - Coleman Kuntz (6-3, 239, Sr.)
X - Onterrio Smith, Jr. (6-2, 195, RSo.)
E - Makai Cope (6-4, 206, RJr.)
Z - Joshua Nicholson (6-0, 179, Sr.)
RB - Elijah Tau-Tolliver (6-1, 204, Jr.)
QB - Carson Conklin (6-1, 180, RSo.)


Some decent returners here, but they really couldn't get the job to begin with. Experienced guys, but fully expect there to be starters that are not on the roster now...

Anchor DE - Will Schalde (6-5, 258, Sr.)
DT - Mason Brosseau (6-3, 276, Sr.)
DT - Brandon Knott (6-3, 278, SR w/ MRS?) OR Kyle Stahlecker (6-6, 289, RSo.)
Rush DE - Josh Cashiola (6-3, 229, Sr.) OR Fata Puloka (6-3, 221, RSo.)
MLB - Nakian Jackson (6-1, 227, Jr.)
Sam LB - Mitchell Wolfe (6-3, 235, Jr.)
NB - Malini Ti’a (6-0, 205, Sr.)
CB - Zelmar Vedder (6-3, 193, Sr.) OR Phoenix Rose
CB - Elias Mullican (6-1, 172, Jr.) OR DJ Houston
SS - Koa Akui (5-10, 187, Jr.)
FS - Anta’Veon McKenzie( 6-1, 196, Jr.)

 

[Kadeezy]

I sure hope on D that 16 Huggins, 45 Williams, 58 mcglothen will play bigger roles next year as well. Williams played well end of 2023, not sure what happened this year (injury?). Also, WR room doesn’t look solid at all but at least that’s one of the easier areas to improve on in the portal.

Williams (45) had a fairly serious injury before the season started, he should get that year back. He was roommates with Gibson, we’ll see if he comes back to football. He was playing great at end of ‘23.